Speaker:

Nassim JafariNaimi

Title:

Examining the Quality of Social Interaction in Participatory Media  

Abstract: 

Participatory media and democracy are both concerned with the relationships possible between people: democracy as a mode of associated living is identified by the quality and purpose of interactions between people; participatory media find their purpose in the value of democracy as they mediate relations among people. So we might ask, can we inquire into democracy by examining the social relations made possible by participatory media? And can we draw on plural conceptions of democracy to critically examine patterns of social interaction that emerge around these products? In this talk, I will address the above questions, presenting instances of participatory media and examining the kinds of relationships that they promote/thwart. In the end, I will introduce the Design and Social Interaction Studio, an interdisciplinary design studio aimed at research and experimentation on participatory and civic media.

Bio:

Nassim JafarNaimi is an Assistant Professor in the Digital Media Program at Georgia Tech. Her research interest is in the ethical and political implications of emerging technologies. More specifically, she examines the experiential and participatory dimensions of participatory media and their relationship to establishing and supporting democratic forms of social interaction. Her research spans both theoretical inquiry and experimental design, situated at the intersection of Design, the Humanities, and Human Computer Interaction. She received her PhD in Design from Carnegie Mellon University and holds an MS in Information Design and Technology from Georgia Tech.